Copyright 1990, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only.
For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software.
FidoNews is published weekly by the System Operators of the
FidoNet (r) International BBS Network. It is a compilation of
individual articles contributed by their authors or authorized
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Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every
responsible submission received.
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
Why the Restrictions on Public Domain Software? .......... 1
SIGN FRIENDS UPDATE-Echo Tie in and File Info ............ 3
Tiffany & Debbie Gibson Echo ............................. 5
UNITEX SEMINAR AT CONCLAVE '90 ........................... 6
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 9
Talk Me Through It, Honey ................................ 9
3. NOTICES .................................................. 12
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 12
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 1 18 Jun 1990
Some of the VERY BEST software around is public domain, and
that's especially true of communications programs. But unfortu-
nately, some of this excellent software isn't available from the
shareware/PD houses, because the authors forbid anyone to earn
money by distributing their software. As a result, the software
has to be downloaded or file requested. Now don't get me wrong.
The authors have every right to place whatever restrictions they
want on their programs, because they own the software. What I
don't understand is their MOTIVE for not allowing others to sell
the SERVICE of copying these programs.
For example, there's an EXCELLENT program that serves as a commu-
nications terminal as well as a front end mailer. As a terminal
program, it has X-, Y-, and Z-modem built in, along with Sealink
and Telink. (More than one commercial program lacks Zmodem!)
Although the PD program doesn't have a dialing menu quite like
some shareware and commercial products, it uses the whole Fido
NodeList for a dialing directory! Just type a net/node number
and the rest is automatic! I don't know of any other terminal
program that does that. And as a front end mailer, the PD pro-
gram saves many a sysop from spending $100 on a commercial mail-
er. And this excellent program isn't even shareware; it's FREE!
Then there's a superb bulletin-board program, one of the most
commonly used in FidoNet. It's very user friendly, and it pro-
vides Continuous Mail capability even WITHOUT a front-end mailer!
Phone it with a mailer program, and it recognizes the mailer and
lets you request files and send and receive messages with or
without files attached. Phone the same program with a terminal
program, and you're welcomed to the BBS without delay! Now THAT'S
software! The price of this state-of-the-art BBS system? That's
right, FREE!
But for some reason, you can't get these programs from the share-
ware/PD houses; you have to find them yourself. On many bulletin
boards, you have to wait to be validated before you can even look
to see if the board has the files you want. The files for these
programs take quite a while to download, unless you're lucky
enough to own a high speed modem. You better have something GOOD
to upload, or the large downloads won't endear you to the host
sysops. Also, the bulletin board program is spread over a large
number of files, and you may have difficulty determining when you
have all the files you need. Now please don't misunderstand me.
The trouble of finding and downloading these files is a VERY
SMALL PRICE to pay for such excellent programs, and we should be
truly grateful to the authors for providing them. But I would
gladly pay some shareware/PD house a few bucks per disk to go to
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 2 18 Jun 1990
this trouble for me.
Believe it or not, I'm lucky enough to live near a shareware/PD
RETAIL STORE! Yes, on my way home from work I can walk into the
store and get a copy of any program in their catalog, instantly,
for $3 a disk! The catalog has a whole paragraph describing each
program, providing much more detail than the single line descrip-
tions found on most bulletin boards. It also explains clearly
about paying for shareware. I turn to the Telecommunications
section of the catalog and find several terminal programs and
several bulletin boards, but none as good as the PD programs men-
tioned above.
THANK YOU, programmers, for providing such wonderful software!
But why do some of you dislike these shareware/PD houses? You
have every right to say that you don't want anyone earning money
by handling YOUR programs, but why not give your users a choice:
to download your programs or to pay someone else to download them
instead?
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FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 3 18 Jun 1990
Anthony Grillo
Fido 1:272/94
SIGN FRIENDS-ECHO & FILE INFORMATION
The response to SIGN FRIENDS has been overwhelming and a few
developments have occured since the article was released in
FIDONEWS.
We had planned to form our own echo for SIGN FRIENDS but we had
an invitation from the SILENTTALK Echo and we are taking them up
on the offer. SIGN FRIENDS will be supported on the SILENTTALK
echo which is available on the backbone. Check with your NEC for
a tie in.
I also had a few requests about the file sizes. Well I decided
not only to list the sizes but to give you the complete file
info so you know you have the real thing. Please note that
SIGN37-3.XXX has been updated. If you have a version dated prior
to 5-27-90 all you need to do is FILE REQUEST MENUII3.BAS and
you'll have the latest version.
SIGN37-3.EXE 82237 5-27-90 Just Updated
SIGN37-3.ZIP 69453 5-27-90 Just Updated
MENUII3.BAS 1408 5-27-90 Upgrades older Version of
SIGN37-3.XXX
SIGN37-4.EXE 66474 6-10-90 NEW RELEASE
SIGN37-4.ZIP 53690 6-10-90 NEW RELEASE
PLEASE NOTE!!: You may file request the above files from the
Electronic Mall anytime except 3am-6am EDT (0700-1000 GMT).
PROGRAM AUTHOR
Just to clarify the situation. Fran O'Gorman is the author of
Sign Friends. All program questions, suggestions, nice letters
etc. should be addressed to Fran. Fran can be reached here by
Netmail or on the SILENTTALK Echo. Anthony Grillo is the sysop
of the host BBS for the SIGN FRIENDS program. Any problems with
downloading or file request should be addressed to Anthony.
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 4 18 Jun 1990
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FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 5 18 Jun 1990
Tiffany & Debbie Gibson Echo
by Daniel Tobias
1:380/7
Despite popular demand, I have inaugurated an echo devoted to the
young singers, Debbie Gibson and Tiffany. This echo, TIFF&DEB,
is being distributed as a non-backbone echo to participating
sysops for the purpose of discussing Tiff and Deb in an
atmosphere free of the obnoxious flaming that ensues when their
names come up in the general MUSIC echo.
Any sysop interested in carrying TIFF&DEB should send me netmail.
You can take a peek at it in message area 14 of my system,
reachable 24 hours at (318) 424-9260, up to 2400 bps.
More Tiffany scoops can be had by file-requesting or downloading
TIFFANY.ZIP, which includes a full chronology of her life and
career among other things.
[Yep, that's Tiffany on the cover of the Spy Magazine "Separated
At Birth II" book, twinned with Julian Lennon, of all people.
And it's her voice you hear in the "Jetsons" movie coming
attraction now seen in theaters; she does three songs there as
well as the voice of Judy Jetson. Regrettably, her good friend
Debbie Gibson has to wait a bit longer for her own silver screen
debut; her "Skirts" movie was scrubbed due to studio politics.
What are they up to next? Read the TIFF&DEB echo to find out!]
DISCLAIMER: This echo is not endorsed by Deborah Gibson, Tiffany
or their respective management. Let's hope they don't sue...
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FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 6 18 Jun 1990
James Waldron
1:107/501
The UNITEX Communications BBS published a feature story in
FIDONEWS and ALTERNEWS in the summer of 1988, in which we
described the concept of operating a specialized
information and news system using data and information from
'internal' United Nations databases and selected news
services. A lot of new developments have occurred since
then. The results and findings of this pilot project will
be discuused at a seminar in the upcoming CONCLAVE '90.
Below is an abstract highlighting some of the key areas of
discussion:
ABSTRACT
UNITEX: Specialized Information and Technology Transfer
Participants:
James Waldron, Ph.D Senior Director and Research Associate
Dorothy Nicklus, International NGO Representative to the UN
Dr. James Waldron has formal training and degrees in
chemical engineering, chemical physics, computer science
and the philosophy of science and has taught at Rutgers
Medical School, New Jersey Institute of Technology and New
York University as Associate Professor. Seven years
industrial experience at a major petroleum corporation as a
senior systems scientist and research specialist.
Publisher of specialized software for the typography and
printing industry (GAMS and CHROMOS). Recipient of several
NSF and NIH grants and awards.
Ms. Dorothy Nicklus, UN NGO, has been an International
Non-Governmental Organization Representative for more than
nine years. An extensive background at the United Nations
starting from the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Conference
(1981-1982), including the recipient of an INTELSAT-PROJECT
SHARE grant and other awards. Background includes formal
training in graphic arts and design, advertising, video
production and typography. Owner of the REGENT GROUP
Corporation, specializing in publishing and financial
printing.
Subject:
UNITEX (United Nations Information Transfer Exchange) has
been pioneering the use and application of wide area
network technology in the areas of specialized information
transfer, using micro computers, since 1984. Starting as a
pilot project, with the cooperation of UN Department of
Public Information (UN DPI), UNITEX went on-line in New
York City with Fido 11w. Custom software was designed to
aid and implement the acquisition of data and information
from several UN international databases maintained on
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 7 18 Jun 1990
mainframes in New York, Geneva and Africa. UNITEX added
other news agencies and related information sources to
augment what was to become the International UNITEX ECHO
Conference which became a FidoNet backbone conference in
September 1987, with worldwide distribution. Unitex was
the first organization that distributed, worldwide,
special sessions of the United Nations General Assembly,
along with, regular scheduled meetings anof the UN General
Assembly, UN press Releases, UN Radio News, news and
special bulletins from UNICEF
What started out as a simple stand-alone BBS with no
network capability became a networked host and gateway for
a conference that was ported to over two dozen major
networks in several countries and was available on more
than ten thousand machines worldwide. UNITEX was
highlighted in August 1989 on CNN News - Science and
Technology Section and has been a source of information for
international correspondents and journalists as well as a
host system (WorldTalk Network) to receive articles from
journalists around the globe.
UNITEX has been an advocate of publishing and transferring
unabridged and uncensored news, data and information for
social benefit. UNITEX spearheaded a major effort to
open-up an international body of information maintained by
the United Nations, which previously had very limited
distribution. This was done in the general public interest
and to encourage debate, to exchange ideas and to transfer
technology between the industrialized nations and the
developing nations. The platform for this exchange grew to
include other related newsworthy and related international
events, such as the United Nations Environmental Programme;
health and medical news, concerning crisis intervention,
treatment of rare diseases, epidemics, worldwide treatment
and disease prevention programs; United Nations Disaster
Relief, concerning aid to hurricane victims, natural
occuring disasters, chemical and radiation accidents;
Department of Defense news briefings, DOD press releases
and other related news which can concern a society
at-large.
UNITEX is presently running on a PS/2 Model 60, 3 MB ram,
160 MB storage, Telebit PEP 9600 Baud.
SEAdog 4.51b/GROUPmail 2.18/OPUS 1.12/KITTEN describe the
software interfaces.
The 'gating' of UNITEX has demonstrated some remarkable
technical feats that would be unheard of only a few years
ago but has also returned some invaluable data that we will
discuss in more detail at the UNITEX Seminar.
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 8 18 Jun 1990
Highlights:
A. The age-old dilemma of performing good science in the
face of political posturing. The role politics can play
and it's effect on research and development.
B. The role of the University InterNet, Research Networks,
Commercial Networks and the FidoNet.
C. Democratization of information
D. Specialized Information Services and Wide Area Networks.
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FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 9 18 Jun 1990
In my early days of programming, circa 1977, we did not have
the tools for program development that we have today. I wasn't
using a full screen source editor until around 1981. When we
tested our software, it was in the test bed, since we didn't
develop software on the 'target' machine. Those were the days
of 'punch cards' and 'listings'.
When you tested, and found problems, you didn't stop and
edit/recompile/relink/load because that cycle could take up to a
full day. What you did was PATCH the problem using the binary
representation of the instructions you needed. Then you could
continue testing. By the end of your test session, you might
have several patches, which you would then use to rewrite the
source in preparation for your next testing session.
Your ability to quickly patch the machine code, and get the
program working was favorably noted by your supervisors and
peers. The art and science of testing under these conditions
was valuable knowledge and contributed to your reputation as a
software developer.
As I look at Webster's Ninth, (C) 1989, I see several
definitions for the words 'hack' and 'hacker'. First HACK.
Most common ( and in use since before the 12th century ) is "to
cut with repeated irregular or unskillful blows". In reference
to program testers, this is a wonderful metaphor, like calling
the 300 pound man 'Tiny'. Compared to the source code, a patch
is a rather unskillful blow to a program.
Other definitions for the verb form include words like
"reshape", "rough cuts" and "cutting blows". These typify the
standard procedure of program patching where a problem was
fixed in the most simple way, or entire sections of code are
branched around in order to get as much code tested in the time
frame allowed.
A second definition : hack is short for hackney, a horse
suitable for riding or driving. This usage, ( from around 1745
) implies a work for hire attitude, with loose
professionalism. Taxicab drivers are known as hacks because
taxis were once horse drawn ( haven't you seen the Sherlock
Holmes shows ? ). This analogy clearly fits the good
programmer, who works like a horse and never wears a tie !
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 10 18 Jun 1990
Hackwork, ( 1851 ), is "literary, artistic or professional work
done on order according to formula and in conformity with
commercial standards. Clearly applicable in the 1970s to
programming, created according to specifications. There seems
to be a fit with the appearance of contract programmers, not
unusual with respect to the artistic nature of programming.
This brings us now to the word HACKER. There are two
definitions. The first ( from 1620 ) one that hacks, a person
who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity. The
second, ( from 1976 ) AN EXPERT AT PROGRAMMING AND SOLVING
PROBLEMS WITH A COMPUTER.
It's obvious that HACKER is an endearing term, full of metaphor
as the hard working, easy going individualist. At least until
the early 1980s when two things happened : 1) computers became
affordable to a wide group of people, and 2) computers became
widely usable by all types of commercial and governmental
endeavors.
Today's definition for HACKER probably stems from the person who
used his microcomputer to communicate with someone else's
computer, gained entry to that computer's application or
operating system command interpreter, and 1) was proud of the
successful attempt to see what was not supposed to be seen, 2)
by seeing, stole information and procedures, and 3) may even
have gone so far as to alter or destroy the information in the
computer system, or disrupt it's operation.
Let's call a rose and rose, and a criminal a criminal.
Where It Hurts Most --
Since I clearly fit the original ( and positive ) definition of
hacker, I am a little miffed at this new negative connotation.
Nearly everyone in this network, who has worked to fit together
the programs necessary to function with this Network, usually
without documentation ( trial and error approach ), is a
hacker in the most positive sense.
When this modern criminal of the computer variety starts giving
my hobby a bad name, I can do little but try to educate the
uninformed. Like with the VIRUS scares of late, it's hard to
set the record straight about the merits of a BBS.
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 11 18 Jun 1990
PREACHING TO THE CHOIR mode on :
The real problem now is that in trying to stamp out criminal
activities, the law enforcement and regulatory groups are going
to affect my hobby. Not, as some would suggest, by
confiscation of equipment or outright banishment, but in
increased costs and hassle. When my pocketbook gets hit, I
start yelling.
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FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 12 18 Jun 1990
14 Jul 1990
Start of Eurocon / Techcon conference in Antwerp, Belgium.
Please note that the date has changed: The conferences are
one day later than originally planned !
27 Jul 1990
The beginning of the REGION 17 Convention at Menucha Resort in
the Columbia Gorge, Oregon. For details contact Ken Zwaschka,
1:105/54.
1 Aug 1990
Start of FidoCon '90. Contact Bill Vanglahn at 1:1/90 for
details.
5 Oct 1990
21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
6 Nov 1990
First anniversary of Van Diepen Automatiseert, 2:500/28
14 Nov 1990
Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at
2:332/16.0
1 Jan 1991
Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact
Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description.
16 Feb 1991
Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush.
7 Oct 1991
Area code 415 fragments. Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
will begin using area code 510. This includes Oakland,
Concord, Berkeley and Hayward. San Francisco, San Mateo,
Marin, parts of Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
Islands will retain area code 415.
1 Feb 1992
Area code 213 fragments. Western, coastal, southern and
eastern portions of Los Angeles County will begin using area
code 310. This includes Los Angeles International Airport,
West Los Angeles, San Pedro and Whittier. Downtown Los
Angeles and surrounding communities (such as Hollywood and
FIDONEWS 7-25 Page 13 18 Jun 1990
Montebello) will retain area code 213.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
